He smiles. “I suppose that leaves me with transportation and logistics?”
“Naturally.”
“I’ll handle all the grocery shopping and keep all of our supplies in stock, as long as you let me know what we need. Maybe we could start a shared list?”
“Yeah, that works,” I agree.
“What else do you want me to take care of? This feels a little one-sided.”
I laugh. “I don’t mind. But if you really want another job, you could take over culinary duties. I’m not a very good cook.”
“Neither am I,” he admits regretfully. “But I do make a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or so I’m told.”
“Perfect. I’ve never had one,” I say with a grin.
He stares at me in shock. “You’ve seriously never had a PB&J? I know you grew up in a peanut-free household, but that’s just un-American.”
“Then I guess that also makes you the director of first-time experiences,” I say, giggling before I realize how awkward that sounds.
He clears his throat and stands, and I curse myself for ruining the moment. But then I see the hand he’s offering me, and I smile before I clasp it and let him pull me to my feet.
“Why don’t we start by taking that trip to the grocery store? You can look up cookie recipes on the way. There’s gotta be a TikTok or YouTube video for that, right?” He smirks at me, and my heart literally skips a beat. “And maybe you could bring some of your flowers to Lo when we drop off her cookies later?” he adds, gesturing to the one in my hand.
“That would be great,” I say softly, hoping I’m not wearing my adoration as plainly on my face as it feels.
CHAPTER 7
landry
“Hey,”I greet Daisy as I walk into the house. She’s sitting on the couch, attempting to thread a needle.
“Oh, hey,” she returns when I get closer, but she sounds more anxious than usual. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in. Um, how was your interview?”
“Good. I guess I’m officially hired now.” I hold up a stack of onboarding paperwork.
“Congratulations, Doc.” She offers me a forced smile as she pulls the needle through a button, but I can tell there’s something bothering her.
“How was school?”
“Fine,” she says on a sigh and shifts to tuck her feet beneath her. She’s wearing another one of her linen sundresses, this one with skinny shoulder straps. But I spot a cardigan sweater draped over a chair back at the counter.
“Did you have any trouble finding a ride home this afternoon?”
“Not at all. My mentor teacher Claire gave me a lift. How were the girls?”
She’s deflecting, but I can’t help smiling when I talk about my nieces. “Great. Loren got Penny to nurse for the first time today.”
She looks up from her sewing, and her face lights up more genuinely. “Oh, that’s awesome! They’re already making so much progress. I bet they’ll be home before we know it.”
“Yeah,” I agree, moving to sit beside her on the couch. I drop the folder full of work forms on the coffee table, and she scoots over to accommodate me. “Everything okay?” I ask cautiously.
“Mm-hmm,” she squeaks, obviously lying. Then she winces and shakes her finger out when she pokes herself with the needle.
I grunt quietly but let it go. “Any plans for dinner?”
She rolls her eyes. “Not for the foreseeable future.”
I fidget uncomfortably before I reach for the remote. “Kinda figured you’d have made a few friends by now. You’re good at that.”
